Family says remains discovered in woods appear to be their son

Police say a hunter found skeletal remains in a wooded area of Byron on Tuesday off of Weld Road.

Author:
Chris Rose , WCSH

Published:
12:09 AM EDT October 19, 2017

BYRON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The family of a man missing from Oxford County says they believe his remains have been found.

State Police said skeletal remains were found by a hunter on Weld Road October 10 and that they might be that of Derek Adams, who went missing from his Byron late last year.

Derek Adams pictured with his family.&nbsp;

Adams mother says the area is quite a distance from her son’s home. Dottie Adams tells NEWS CENTER dental records and clothing near the site are consistent with her sons.

“It’s a tremendous wave of relief. We now know where he is and can give him a proper goodbye”, she said.

Derek Adams disappeared without a trace just hours before a major snowstorm in late December. Several searches turned up no sign of him.

Derek Adams and his dog went missing in December 2016.&nbsp;

The discovery came just days before the family held a remembrance service for him at Black Mountain in Rumford on Saturday, October 14. Adams' family was hoping he would still be found alive, but was also realistic about the chances of that being slim.

The family is now waiting for official confirmation from the state medical examiner’s office

The remains were found by a hunter last week off the Weld Road. Adams mother says the area is a quite a distance from her son’s home. Dottie Adams tells NEWS CENTER dental records and clothing near the site are consistent with her sons.

“It’s a tremendous wave of relief. We now know where he is and can give him a proper goodbye”, she said.

Derek Adams disappeared without a trace just hours before a major snowstorm in late December. Several searches turned up no sign of him.

The discovery came just days before the family held a remembrance service for him at Black Mountain in Rumford on Saturday. Adams' family was hoping he would still be found alive, but was also realistic about the chances of that being slim.

The family is now waiting for official confirmation from the state medical examiner’s offic